Varejao to Europe?

[F-Dog]

http://http://www.cleveland.com/cavs/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/sports/1190623273182720.xml&coll=2

The Cavaliers begin training camp next week, and they still have not signed restricted free agents Sasha Pavlovic and Anderson Varejao.

The Cavs and Pavlovic are so far apart on a deal - according to Marc Cornstein, Pavlovic's agent - that Pavlovic may decide to play in Europe.

"That's something we have to explore," Cornstein said. "European teams have larger budgets, and the Euro is strong. I'm not doing my job if we don't explore all options."

There are reports that Dan Fegan, Varejao's agent, also will explore overseas options.

Since Varejao and Pavlovic are restricted free agents, the Cavs can match any offer sheet presented to either player. There's also the possibility of a sign-and-trade. Both could play this season on a one-year tender offer and become unrestricted free agents next summer.

That sounds unlikely for Pavlovic.

"Sasha has no intentions of signing a qualifying offer," Cornstein said. "Sasha had a good season. He became one of the core players that helped Cleveland get to the Finals. What we're looking for is not an unreasonable amount."

The problem with playing FIBA is that (AFAIK) the Cavs will keep both players' RFA rights.

I still think Varejao would sign with the Suns for 1 year, $3m, with a decent chance the Cavs wouldn't match.

 

[slinslin]

Why would the Cavs not match... They are just waiting for someone to sign him so they can keep him for less than he demands from them.

 

[F-Dog]

Because it puts them over the luxtax limit, and they'd lose any and all rights over Varejao next summer. Big short-term cost, no long-term benefit.

 

[slinslin]

That raises another question IF Varejao would even be interessted in a 1 year deal.

Also why isn't anyone else signing him? Surely there are teams left with capspace or the MLE that can use it without going over the tax?

He would be a good fit here even with his non-existant offense but the price seems to be too high for a 1 dimensional player.

 

[F-Dog]

Varejao's asking price for a multi-year deal is more than the MLE. Only one or two teams have that much to spend.

On the other hand, the qualifying offer is $1.7m. Right now, Cleveland's giving him the choice of accepting a long-term MLE deal or the QO, so if Varejao thinks he's worth $8m per, a short-term deal with the Suns might be his best bet.



One other point: if the Cavs match, so what? What else are the Suns going to be doing with their exception over the next two weeks?

 

[Divide Et Impera]

S&T 75% of KT's trade exemption for Varejao. That's a contract starting at roughly $6M/year and CLE avoids the Luxury Tax and gains some flexibility....

 

[F-Dog]

I was wrong about Varejao's QO.

As for Varejao, for him the stakes are higher. His qualifying offer is much lower, just over $1.2 million. If he plays for that my guess is he’ll be leaving at least $4 million on the table for this season alone. If he wants to prove his point and vows to walk next summer, the best he is probably going to get is the mid-level exception from a team (ask guys like Stromile Swift and Vlad Radmanovic). It’s likely the Cavs are offering him more than that now. So, if I were him, despite his strong desire to land a $50 million contract or whatever, I’d pay attention to what Gooden did and take a three-year deal that will likely increase his net worth by 10 times while still putting him in position to command a massive deal when he’s in his prime. But don’t ask me, I’m just trying to be objective.

http://http://www.ohiomm.com/blogs/cavs/2007/09/22/restricted-summer-what-a-bummer/

 

[azirish]

I know he's pretty good, but I can't see anyone giving Varejao the kind of money he's asking for. He's a bit better than Skinner on the boards (6.7 rpg to 5.7 rgp), but otherwise his stats are fairly similar.

Minutes 23.9
6.8 ppg
6.7 rpg
47.6% shooting
61.6% FT
0.6 blocks

 

[fordronken]

I know he's pretty good, but I can't see anyone giving Varejao the kind of money he's asking for. He's a bit better than Skinner on the boards (6.7 rpg to 5.7 rgp), but otherwise his stats are fairly similar.

Minutes 23.9
6.8 ppg
6.7 rpg
47.6% shooting
61.6% FT
0.6 blocks

Varejao is much more athletic and much more active. It may not show in stats, but he's closer to a guy like Bo Outlaw in his prime than Skinner now.

 

[Mainstreet]

I know he's pretty good, but I can't see anyone giving Varejao the kind of money he's asking for. He's a bit better than Skinner on the boards (6.7 rpg to 5.7 rgp), but otherwise his stats are fairly similar.

Minutes 23.9
6.8 ppg
6.7 rpg
47.6% shooting
61.6% FT
0.6 blocks

He's younger than Skinner and I believe a good sign for a reasonable amount. I believe he would be a good fit in Phoenix. Too bad Phoenix is not willing to go the extra mile. I think Marion will be gone after this season. Don't ask me how. However, I fear Phoenix will never keep the Atlanta pick.

 

[CaptainInsano]

If we do not get PJ I would really hope we could get Varejao for 1 year as the 2nd part of our 2 player foul punch (skinner/varejao) vs duncan to slow him down.

Varejao being very energetic, great at running the floor, and the fact he doesn't muck things up would be really helpful.

It would be sort of like if we got the draft pick and drafted the one guy the bulls did since I have already forgotten his name from wiping the horrid draft scenario from my mind.

 

[Divide Et Impera]

If we got Varejao along with the Skinner signing, I would run Amare back at the 4 and Marion at the 3, period.

Nash-Bell-Marion-Stoudemire-Varejao

Barbosa-Hill-Skinner-Diaw-Tucker-Strawberry-Marks

Now I would be supremely confident about our chances....

 

[elindholm]

Varejao won't sign for what the Suns are willing to offer. I think the roster is set.

 

[Divide Et Impera]

Varejao won't sign for what the Suns are willing to offer. I think the roster is set.

Ahem....

S&T 75% of KT's trade exemption for Varejao. That's a contract starting at roughly $6M/year and CLE avoids the Luxury Tax and gains some flexibility....

 

[elindholm]

S&T 75% of KT's trade exemption for Varejao. That's a contract starting at roughly $6M/year and CLE avoids the Luxury Tax and gains some flexibility....

I didn't say he wouldn't take what the Suns could offer, but what they are willing to. Cleveland avoids the luxury tax in your scenario, but Phoenix doesn't. There's no way in hell they're paying $12 million for Varejao.

 

[Divide Et Impera]

The way I look at it, the Suns would be paying $6M to Varejao and $6M divided up amongst the rest of the roster (less than $500,000 each). So, in reality, they'd be paying Varejao an additional $500,000 along with everyone else. It's not like Varejao constitutes the entirety of the cap himself....

 

[elindholm]

The way I look at it, the Suns would be paying $6M to Varejao and $6M divided up amongst the rest of the roster (less than $500,000 each). So, in reality, they'd be paying Varejao an additional $500,000 along with everyone else. It's not like Varejao constitutes the entirety of the cap himself....

Heck, I like your way of thinking, but I think it's abundantly clear that Sarver and Kerr don't see it that way.

 

[Mainstreet]

Divide Et Impera, you have my vote for the Suns GM position.

 

[F-Dog]

Divide Et Impera, you have my vote for the Suns' Owner.

Fixed.




The Suns obviously aren't going to do this because it would involve spending money. As of today, though, a 1yr, $3m deal would be the best offer on Varejao's plate.